Dubai Desert Classic: Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter two back as three share halfway lead | Golf News

Thomas Pieters, Richard Bland and amateur Michael Thorbjornsen show half way, with Rory McIlroy among the two returning players; event will end on Monday due to weather delays – watch the third round live on Saturday from 4am on Sky Sports Golf

Rory McIlroy overcame a lackluster day to remain in contention at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where Thomas Pieters is part of a three-way tie for the halfway lead.

McIlroy only found two fairways during the second round at the Emirates Golf Club, although he salvaged two in 70 to stay within the two pacesetters Pieters, Richard Bland and Michael Thorbjornsen in the weather-delayed Rolex Series event.

Thorbjornsen birdied five of the opening six holes and also bogeyed the par-five 18th on his way to a third-round 64, while Pieters birdied seven on the back nine and Bland finished with two consecutive 67s to make it three-way. tie at the top.

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Miguel Angel Jimenez had a great start to day three of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic tournament with birdies on the first two holes.

Scotland’s Connor Syme has withdrawn along with Adri Arnaus and Marcus Kinhult, while McIlroy is among a large group of players who are eight under and two off the lead as they chase the start of a win until 2023.

McIlroy – starting the day two strokes back – rolled in a 20-foot birdie at the third before having to take a drop from the bushes after an erratic tee shot at the tenth, resulting in a bogeying par five.

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Rory McIlroy was disappointed with his performance on day three of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club.

The world No. 1 chipped in a 33-foot eagle on the par-five 13th and closed the round with five consecutive pars, allowing him to win the event for the third time and first since 2015.

“If you can’t hit the fairways around here and the rough is thick enough, it’s very hard to have control of the ball and get it close to the par-fours,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, just a little rusty – needs a little work.

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Rory McIlroy holed out for eagle on the 13th hole to get his third round back on track at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“I chipped and put it well, and I sort of get myself around the golf course okay. It was possible to send a couple of decent values ​​and at least have a chance to go to the last two days, but it’s definitely more negative than positive and it’s necessary to go and find out in range.”

McIlroy avoids Reed’s pair

The 33-year-old had looked set for a third-round showdown with LIV golfer Patrick Reed, after a pre-tournament incident in some training, although the pair could not pull it together despite both being tied for seventh. .

McIlroy was instead drawn against LIV golfer and Ryder Cup teammate Bernd Wiesberger, with England’s Dan Bradbury completing the group after shooting a day-long 63, while first-round leader Ian Poutler and fellow Brit Matt Wallace were among them. logjam in the bottom eight.

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Nicolai Hojgaard’s shot in the 18th was taken away from the hospitality tent by the staff, but it ended up going back to him for a free!

Another interesting pairing in the third round is the Ryder Cup captain Lukas Donald who is grouped with Henrik Stenson, the man who changed in the role after Sweden was elected to join the LIV, with the Ryder Cup hopeful Tyrrell Hatton also in the threeball.

Some of the 21 players were within three shots of the lead going into Sunday’s third round, with the final round now taking place on Monday due to lengthy weather delays earlier on Sunday.

Watch the Hero Dubai Desert Classic all week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Sunday from 4am on Sky Sports Golf, with the weather-delayed final round also on Monday.